■ INTRODUCTION
- Spring drive watch –
Thank you for purchasing the Grand Seiko Spring Drive watch.
The Spring Drive is Seiko’s unique mechanism in which accuracy is controlled by a
microelectronics quartz mechanism while using the power of the mainspring to move the hands.
The Spring Drive can be called a watch that strongly combines and connects the user with the
latest advancements in technology.
A mechanical watch of taste and refinement with an accuracy equivalent to a quartz watch, this
sophisticated and innovative watch ticks in step with the pace of a person’s life.
This is a watch that creates a lifestyle for modern individuals who seek affluence and
convenience in their life.
That is what the Grand Seiko Spring Drive watch is all about.
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INTRODUCTION
- Spring drive watch –
History of Spring Drive
Decades-long dream lives in the Grand Seiko
Grand Seiko’s history symbolizes the culmination of efforts and development aiming for better
practical watches.
The Grand Seiko watch was born in 1960, reached the very top in the mechanical watch field
around the world at the end of the 1960’s. After a hiatus of dozen years or so, in 1993, the Grand
Seiko 9F series equipped with world-class quartz movement was released.
In 1998, the 9S series mechanical movement that combined traditional craftsmanship and
advanced technology was developed to reintroduce the Grand Seiko mechanical caliber.
Furthermore, while using the unwinding power of the mainspring as its sole power source, this
Spring Drive realizes much greater accuracy than conventional mechanical watches. The watch
also embodies the concepts of Grand Seiko that continues the challenge of creating the best
practical watch.
1960
● Released the first Grand Seiko.
1964
● Participated in the Neuchatel Observatory Competition in
Switzerland for the first time.
1968
● Released Japan’s first automatic winding 10-beat model, 61GS.
1968
●
Won the first prize in the mechanical wrist chronometer category of
the Geneva Observatory Competition in Switzerland.
1978
● Filed a patent for the Spring Drive mechanism for the first time.
1982
●
Filed a patent for the Spring Drive mechanism (registered). Started
initial development.
1988
● Released the first Grand Seiko quartz caliber.
1993
● Started the second development of the Spring Drive.
● Released the Grand Seiko 9F series equipped with world-class
quartz movement.
1997
● Started the third development of the Spring Drive.
● Released technological announcement of the Spring Drive at the
Swiss Society of Chronometry (SSC).
1998
● Exhibited the Spring Drive at BASELWORLD.
● Released the Grand Seiko 9S series mechanical caliber combining
traditional craftsmanship and advanced technology.
● Started the development of the automatic winding Spring Drive.
1999
● Released the manual-winding Spring Drive (CAL.7R68) limited
edition from SEIKO.
2002
● Released the manual-winding Spring Drive (CAL.7R88) from
CREDOR.
2004
● Released the Grand Seiko automatic winding Spring Drive
(CAL.9R65).
2007
● Released the first Grand Seiko chronograph (9R86).
2016
● Released 9R01 8Days which realized a long continuous operating
time with three barrels.
2020
● Released Spring Drive 9RA5 which was evolved to have high
accuracy and 5-day power reserve.
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English
